
The last episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” airs tonight on CBS at after an 11-year run. The episode marks the end of the “Late Show” franchise, launched in the post-Johnny Carson 1990s. I couldn’t be more happy he is gone but so sad he single handily Ruined and ICONIC Legacy Show.
CBS announced last year it would end the show, citing financial reasons. Colbert led the time slot over competitors Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel, averaging 2.4 million viewers per episode last year. However, late-night viewership has dropped since the 2010s, while production costs have reportedly risen. The decision came amid long-standing tensions between Colbert and President Donald Trump (whom Colbert frequently mocked), and as Paramount sought regulatory approval for a merger with Skydance Media. Rewatch Colbert’s 2015 interview with then-candidate Trump here.
The “Late Show” slot will be filled by “Comics Unleashed,” hosted by Byron Allen; Colbert will continue cowriting a “Lord of the Rings” film (see how the gig came about).